As dusk settled, Tilu guided his team to a high vantage point, where he promptly ordered them to establish camp and recuperate.
Even the most robust of sword wielders required sustenance and rest, particularly as nightfall heralded the emergence of countless venomous insects and ferocious beasts from their lairs.
Compounding this, the drastically reduced visibility made further travel utterly impossible.
****
Having witnessed Tilu’s formidable prowess earlier, the adventurers now regarded him with even greater deference, a respect echoed even by the ambassador within the carriage, who displayed a remarkably humble demeanor.
During dinner, You’er finally caught a glimpse of this ambassador.
He was an old man, unremarkable save for his impeccably neat attire, and You’er quickly lost interest, returning to his vigil with Hidden Edge clutched in his arms.
A gentle tug on his clothes drew You’er’s attention.
He turned to find Timobi gazing up at him, face alight with excitement. ‘What is it, Little Ti?’ You’er inquired.
‘Big Sister You’er,’ Timobi chirped, ‘Dad’s calling you for dinner! Someone else can take over watch.’
He then grabbed You’er’s wrist, his eager demeanor quite endearing. ‘Come on, Big Sister You’er, hurry up! Little Ti’s tummy is completely empty!’
‘So, you’re quite the little foodie, aren’t you?’ You’er chuckled inwardly, allowing Timobi to lead him to a crackling bonfire.
Tilu was crouched there, fanning the flames with a handheld fan.
‘Good evening, Uncle Tilu,’ You’er greeted him, bowing with cupped fists.
‘Ah, you’re here! Come, find a spot and sit down, taste Uncle’s cooking, haha… (Wind rustles: *whoosh, whoosh, whoosh*) *Cough, cough*… Damn it, this unruly, stupid wind!’
Upon hearing You’er, Tilu waved the fan in his direction, his hearty laughter abruptly cut short as a sudden gust of wind swept thick smoke directly into his face, making his eyes water.
‘Pfft~~’
‘Haha, Dad’s so clumsy! Silly Dad, hahaha!’
This scene proved too much for both You’er and Timobi, though You’er maintained more restraint, unlike Timobi, who pointed directly at his father and burst into peals of laughter.
‘What are you grinning about, you foolish son!’
Tilu slapped Timobi on the forehead, then used his ash-stained fingers to draw two strokes on either side of Timobi’s face, forming the character for ‘eight’.
‘Stupid Dad, you’re bullying me again! I’ll fight you!’
Timobi, with a casual swipe, instantly transformed his face into that of a mischievous calico cat.
Seeing his hands covered in ink-like smudges, he couldn’t tolerate it a moment longer and immediately pounced on Tilu, exacting his revenge by smearing the smudges wherever he could.
‘Damn it, you foolish son! I just changed these clothes today! Are you going to wash them if you get them dirty? ‘
‘Hmph, I don’t care! Stupid Dad, take this, take this!’
‘No, no, Dad’s wrong, Dad’s an idiot, alright? Now get down, your friend You’er is watching your antics!’
‘Ah, oh~~ Big Sister You’er, that was just an accident! I’m usually very well-behaved, really, really!’
‘…’ You’er remained silent.
Timobi, who had leaped off his father’s head, instantly transformed into a well-behaved child when facing You’er, standing rigidly with his hands clasped behind his back.
However, his smudged, grimy face hardly lent him an air of conviction.
‘Go wash your face first,’ You’er said with a gentle shake of his head, ruffling Timobi’s hair.
‘Oh, oh, I’m going right away!’ Timobi paused for a moment, then scurried off like a rabbit.
‘That brat is truly getting too cheeky,’ Tilu grumbled with a laugh, looking down at the black smudges covering his clothes.
‘Isn’t it good for boys to be full of vitality?’
Watching Timobi bounce around in the distance, You’er’s gaze held a touch of melancholy.
He, too, had once been just as lively, cheerful, and innocent.
Contrasting that with his current self, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of wistful regret.
‘What do you think of Little Ti, Miss You’er?’
‘Eh?!’
You’er had yet to fully compose himself when Tilu’s sudden question startled him considerably, and seeing the latter’s expectant gaze, his mood grew somewhat ineffable.
‘Please don’t look at me as a prospective daughter-in-law, I truly can’t bear it…’
‘Haha, once you get old, you tend to worry about all sorts of things,’ Tilu said, straightening up and retrieving his fan from the ground, fanning the bonfire a few times. ‘I was just asking casually, Miss You’er, you don’t have to mind it. This stewed lamb is almost ready; you’ll definitely be satisfied with Uncle’s cooking later.’
‘Thank you, Uncle Tilu, then I, You’er, won’t stand on ceremony,’ You’er replied with a smile, finding a spot around the bonfire and sitting down.
‘Haha, you’ve been waiting for me, haven’t you? Little Ti makes his grand reappearance!’ Timobi darted out like a startled rabbit, raising his left hand high and holding his right hand level with his left shoulder, striking a pose that was utterly comical.
‘You brat, don’t make a spectacle of yourself here.’
Tilu covered his eyes, as if unable to bear the sight, and slapped him down.
‘Dad, if you keep hitting me like that, I won’t grow tall in the future!’ Sitting beside Tilu, Timobi rubbed his aching head, his big eyes glaring at Tilu in protest.
A child’s heart is always so pure.
Before Tilu could even speak, Timobi’s attention had already shifted, his mouth watering as he stared at the stew pot over the bonfire, his eyes sparkling. ‘Dad, Dad, is the lamb ready? Is the lamb ready? My tummy’s completely empty!’
‘Alright, alright, I’ll serve you right away, you brat, watch your drool!’
‘Hehe, it’s only because Dad’s cooking is too delicious.’
‘Haha, indeed it is! Just look at whose father I am!’
‘Dad, you’re getting ahead of yourself again.’
‘…’
You’er did not interject, quietly observing the endless bickering between the father and son.
In his eyes, however, a faint trace of warmth began to surface.
The scene before him felt strangely familiar.
‘Father, where might you be now…’
****
The night passed without incident.
Early the next morning, the group set off again, continuing their journey without further complications.
By sunset, they had smoothly arrived at their destination: Yu City.
Yu City was a grand metropolis, situated on a vast, boundless plain.
Two canals converged within the city, and its transportation network was extensive, even boasting long-distance magic-powered trains.
Upon entering Yu City, You’er bid farewell to Tilu and Timobi, then disappeared into the bustling crowd, leaving Timobi with a reluctant gaze.
You’er first went to the Adventurers’ Guild to collect the ten gold coins for his commission, and after receiving a badge signifying a Black Iron-rank adventurer, he immediately planned to take a magic train.
From the moment he entered Yu City, You’er had felt a faint, persistent gaze fixed upon him—cold and cruel, making him feel a constant prickle of unease.
You’er recalled the rumors he had heard earlier; it seemed incidents typically occurred at night, meaning he would be wise to leave the city before dusk.
Fortunately, the magic trains operated on fixed tracks, so their schedule remained unaffected by the onset of night.
‘Hmm?!’
You’er had just purchased a ticket for an immediate departure to an eastern city at the ticket counter, and before he could even board the train, he spotted Tilu, looking anxious and frantically searching around.
‘Uncle Tilu, why are you so flustered? Where’s Little Ti?’ You’er’s delicate brows furrowed; he suddenly had a bad premonition.
‘I just went to submit the mission… After leaving the Adventurers’ Guild… Little Ti… was gone! I’ve searched everywhere but can’t find him!’
Tilu panted heavily, his words sending a shock through You’er’s heart.